History of National Congress

The Foundation Years

Demand for Equitable Government through Administrative Reforms Indian National Congress Concern for the removal of Poverty.
Resolution deploring :

The growing impoverishment of the people

The wealth of the country being drained away

The condition of the ryots steadily deterioration since 1848 nearly 40 million people having only one meal a day and sometimes not even that

Annual Sessions of the Congress Party held in different venues every year

Provincial Conferences organized to foster country-wide involvement

Concrete steps taken to organize Public Opinion in Great Britain in favor of the Indian viewpoint

Thrust on seeking Representation in Government

Madan Mohan Malaviya – “No taxation without representation”

July 1889 Formation of British Committee of the Indian National Congress with Offices in London to put pressure on Parliament in Great Britian.1892 Dadabhai Naoroji elected to British Parliament in Great Britian.1892 India Councils Act a major victory for Congress but it still did not envisage elected representation

1885

BOMBAY

W. C. BONNERJEE

1886

CALCUTTA

DADABHAI NAOROJI

1887

MADRAS

BADRUDDIN TYABJI

1888

ALLAHABAD

GEORGE YULE

1889

BOMBAY

SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN

1890

CALCUTTA

SIR PHEROZESHAH MEHTA

1891

NAGPUR

P. ANANDA CHARLU

1892

ALLAHABAD

W. C. BONNERJEE

1893

LAHORE

DADABHAI NAOROJI

1894

MADRAS

ALFRED WEBB

Consolidation And Beyond

Demand for Fiscal Responsibility

Demand for Indianisation of Services

Protest against economic emasculation

Government insensitive to Natural disasters

Famine Plague Floods

Lokmanya Tilak works for the famine affected polpulace of Pune – accused of inciting violence by his writings in “Kesari” – imprisoned

The Curzon Vice-Royalty – many repressive measaures

Sedition Act curbing the elementary liberties of the people

Official Secrets Act with burden of proof of innocence shifted onto the accused

Protest against proposed Partition of Bengal along communal lines

1906 Demand for Swaraj Boycott of British Goods
1907 First Split in Congress between Moderates and Extremists – the Moderates retain control of the Organization
1909 Minto-Morley Reforms creating the Indian Councils gave representation but also gave impetus to the virus of Communalism by providing for separate electorates
1909 First signs of strain in Hindu-Muslim relations
1911 The partition of Bengal is annulled

1905

BENARES

GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE

1906

CALCUTTA

DADABHAI NAOROJI

1907

SURAT

RASHBIHARI GHOSH

1908

MADRAS

RASHBIHARI GHOSH

1909

LAHORE

PT MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA

1910

ALLAHABAD

SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN

1911

CALCUTTA

PT BISHAN NARAYAN DAR

1912

BANKIPUR

R. N. MUDHOLKAR

1913

KARACH

NAWAB SYED MOHD BAHADUR

1914

MADRAS

BHUPENDRA NATH BOSE

The Foundations Of Independent India

The Home Rule Movement

The Advent Of Gandhi

The Khilafat Movement

The Non-Cooperation Movement

1916 Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim league
1917 Proposal for a Congress Flag (later to become the National Tricolour)
1917 Principle of Linguisitic Division accepted – foundation for the eventual creation of states by linguistic identity
1917 Gandhiji introduces Satyagraha as a potent weapon of political protest in Champaran
1918 Satyagraha in Gujarat successful
1919 Gandhiji organizes countrywide Satyagraha against the RowlattAct
1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
1919 Gandhiji organizes countrywide Satyagraha against the RowlattAct
1920 Khilafat Movement
1920 Gandhiji tours the country to organize the Non-Cooperation Movement
1920 The Congress becomes a Mass Movement
1920 The Country United under Mahatma Gandhi
1922 Gandhiji arrested
1924 Gandhiji’s 21 day fast against Communal Disturbances

The Final Stage

The Demand For Immediate Freedom

Mass Satyagraha

1935 The Government of India Act
1935 Gandhiji decides to concentrate on Social Reform
1935 Congress condemns the new Constitution but decides to contest Elections
1936 Nehru’s Presidential address condemns Fascism
1937 Congress wins Elections in 5 out of 9 Provinces
1939 Resignation of Congress Ministries and withdrawal from the Legislative Process
1939 Demand for a Constituent assembly to be elected by Universal Franchise
1940 Non-Cooperation in the War Effort
1940 Call for a National Government
1940 9th August 1942 Quit India Resolution
1940 Mass Arrests leading to All India Public Protest
1943-44 Allied victories in the war leading to intransigent British position
1943-44 Gandhiji and Congress leaders released from Prison but British refuse to negotiate
1943-44 Jinnah adamant on Partition
1945 Simla Conference fails
1946 INA Trial
1946 Naval Mutiny
1946 Cabinet Mission to decide fate of India
1946 Congress wins an overwhelming majority in Elections to the Constitutional Assembly
1931-32 Repression by the British and resumption of the Struggle. Gandhiji arrested
1932 Poona Agreement guaranteeing Reserved Seats for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes
1933 Gandhiji on fast for 21 days for the cause of the Harijans
1934 Gandhiji withdraws from the Congress
1934 Congress Constitution amended to make Non-Violence and Khadi its fundamental creeds

1935

LUCKNOW

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

1936

FAIZPUR

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

1937

1938

1939

HARIPURA

SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE

1940

TRIPURA

SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

MEERUT

ACHARYA J.B. KRIPALANI

1946

1947

After Freedom

The Congress Message Enunciated By Pt Nehru – “Political Freedom Having Been Attained Through Non-Violent Action Under The Leadership Of Gandhi, The National Congress Now Has To Labour For The Attainment Of Social And Economic Freedom So That Progress And Equal Opportunity May Come To All The People Of India Without Any Distinction Of Race Or Religion”

The Demand For Immediate Freedom

Mass Satyagraha

1955 Resolution seeking to introduce Planning for a Socialistic Pattern of Society1955 Concept of economic and social reconstruction1964 Demise of Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru

1948

JAIPUR

DR. PATTABHI SITARAMAYYA

1950

NASIK

PURSHOTTAM DAS TANDON

1951

NEW DELHI

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

1953

HYDERABAD

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

1954

KALYANI

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

Towards Socialism

1955

AVADI

U.N. DHEBAR

1956

AMRITSAR

U.N. DHEBAR

1957

INDORE

U.N. DHEBAR

1959

NAGPUR

U.N. DHEBAR

1960

BANGALORE

NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY

1961

BHAVNAGAR

NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY

1962

PATNA

NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY

1964

BHUBANESHWAR

K. KAMARAJ

The Advent Of Smt Indira Gandhi

The Demand For Immediate Freedom

Mass Satyagraha

1955 Resolution seeking to introduce Planning for a Socialistic Pattern of Society1955 Concept of economic and social reconstruction1964 Demise of Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru

1948

JAIPUR

DR. PATTABHI SITARAMAYYA

1950

NASIK

PURSHOTTAM DAS TANDON

1951

NEW DELHI

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

1953

HYDERABAD

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

1954

KALYANI

PT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

Towards Socialism

1955

AVADI

U.N. DHEBAR

1956

AMRITSAR

U.N. DHEBAR

1957

INDORE

U.N. DHEBAR

1959

NAGPUR

U.N. DHEBAR

1960

BANGALORE

NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY

1961

BHAVNAGAR

NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY

1962

PATNA

NEELAM SANJEEVA REDDY

1964

BHUBANESHWAR

K. KAMARAJ

The Advent Of Smt Indira Gandhi

The Demand For Immediate Freedom

Mass Satyagraha

1965 Demise of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri
1965 Smt Indira Gandhi chosen as Prime Minister
1969 Bank Nationalization
1969 Abolition of the Princes
1969 Split in Congress over the Election of the President of India
1971 Mid-Term Poll swept by Smt. Indira Gandhi
1972 Congress gets massive victories in state elections
1975 Imposition of Emergency
1977 Loss in General Elections
1977 Congress for Democracy splits the party
1978 Split in Congress
1978 Smt Indira Gandhi sweeps state elections in Andhra and Karnataka
1980 Indira Gandhi sweeps back to power with over 300 seats in the Lok Sabha
31st October 1984 Martyrdom of Smt Indira Gandhi

1965

DURGAPUR

K.KAMARAJ

1966

JAIPUR K.

KAMARAJ

1968

HYDERABAD

S. NIJALINGAPPA

1969

FARIDABAD

S. NIJALINGAPPA

1969

BOMBAY

JAGJIVAN RAM

1971

1972

CALCUTTA

DR. SHANKAR DAYAL SHARMA

1975

CHANDIGARH

DEV KANT BOROOAH

1977

1978

NEW DELHI

INDIRA GANDHI

1980

INDIRA GANDHI

1983

CALCUTTA

1984

Towards The Twenty First Century

1984 Shri Rajiv Gandhi leads the Congress to an unprecedented Victory of 401 seats in the Lok Sabha

1984 Shri Rajiv Gandhi leads the Congress to an unprecedented Victory of 401 seats in the Lok Sabha

Attempt to solve long pending disputes :

Mizo Accord

Assam Accord

Punjab Accord

Historic visit to China

1965

DURGAPUR

K.KAMARAJ

“A century of achievements ends. A century of endeavour beckons to us. Our resplendent civilization with unbroken continuity from the third millennium B.C. looks ahead to peaks of excellence in the third millennium A.D.

It fails to us to work for India’s greatness. A great country is not one which merely has a great past, Out of that past must arise a glorious future.

Let us build an India.

liberated from the bondage of poverty, and of social and economic inequality;

An India

disciplined & efficient;

fortified by ethical and spiritual values;

a fearless force for peace on earth;

the School of the world, blending the inner repose of the spirit with material progress;

a new civilization, with the strength of our heritage, the creativity of the spring time of youth and the unconquerable spirit of our people.

Great achievements demand great sacrifices. Sacrifices not only from our generation and generations gone by, but also from generations to come.Civilizations are not built by just one or two generations. Civilizations are built by the ceaseless toil of a succession of generations. With softness and sloth, civilizations succumb. Let us beware of decadence.We must commit ourselves to the demanding task of making India a mighty power in the World, with all the strength and the compassion of her great culture.

To this cause, I pledge myself.”

From the Presidential Address of Shri Rajiv Gandhi at Bombay

1984 Shri Rajiv Gandhi leads the Congress to an unprecedented Victory of 401 seats in the Lok Sabha

The Interim Years

1991 Congress comes to power on sympathy vote after the martyrdom of Shri Rajiv Gandhi
1991 P.V. Narasimha Rao chosen Congress Prime Minister
1991 Dr Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister takes first steps towards opening up the economy and making it globally competitive
1996 Congress loses General Elections
1996 P.V. Narasimha Rao resigns from Presidentship of Party
1996 Sitaram Kesri chosen as President
1997 IN THE RUN UP TO THE GENERAL ELECTIONS CONGRESS DEMORALISED AND LEADERS THREATENING TO LEAVE THE PARTY. ALL PSEPHOLOGISTS PREDICT TOTAL DISASTER FOR THE PARTY
1997 SMT. SONIA GANDHI PERSUADED TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE PARTY TO STOP IT FROM COLLAPSING ALTOGETHER

1991

1992

TIRUPATI

P.V. NARASIMHA RAO

1996

1997

CALCUTTA

SITARAM KESRI

The Resurgence Of The Party

14th March 1998 Smt. Sonia Gandhi persuaded to take over as Congress PresidentCongress on a wining spree. Wins state elections and forms Governments in a majority of the states:

1998

1999

2000

2001

BANGALORE

SMT SONIA GANDHI

2002

2003

2004

28TH AND 29TH MARCH 2003 FIRST EVER CONVENTION OF ALL BLOCK CONGRESS PRESIDENTS HELD AT DELHI THRUST ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION

“CONGRESS KA HAATH GARIB KE SAATH”

7TH, 8TH AND 9TH JULY 2003 SHIMLA VICHAR MANTHAN SHIVIR SHIMLA SANKALP ADOPTED BY THE PARTY

“CONGRESS KA HAATH AAM AADMI KE SAATH”

General Elections Held In May 2004

Congress under Smt. Sonia Gandhi leads United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to victory in Elections defeating the BJP led NDA

Smt. Sonia Gandhi elected head of the Parliamentary Party

Smt. Sonia Gandhi asked to head UPA Government as Prime Minister

Smt. Sonia Gandhi Elected Head Of The Parliamentary Party

“I was always certain that if ever I found myself in the position that I am in today, I would follow my own inner voice. Today, that voice tells me I must humbly decline this post.” – Sonia Gandhi